Jawan found unconscious with eyes gouged out

An armyman was found unconscious with his eyes gouged out in a forest area in Rajouri on Wednesday. A passerby, who spotted Ramesh Kumar Sharma, 28, informed the Chowki Chowra police post after which a police team was rushed to the spot. Kumar was admitted to a nearby hospital at Akhnoor from where he was shifted to GMCH, Jammu.

An army man was found unconscious with his eyes gouged out in a forest area in Rajouri on Wednesday. A passerby, who spotted Ramesh Kumar Sharma, 28, informed the Chowki Chowra police post after which a police team was rushed to the spot. Kumar was admitted to a nearby hospital at Akhnoor from where he was shifted to GMCH, Jammu. He was referred to military hospital, Jammu, around 6pm. Doctors treating Sharma said he had suffered “evisceration of eyeballs”.

“The jawan was found unconscious in a nullah with eyes gouged out along the Jammu-Poonch national highway in Chowki Chowra area of Akhnoor,” police said.

They added Sharma was attached with 11 Rashtriya Rifles at Kishtwar and was on leave and had left Nowshera in a bus on April 1 to join his duty.

Sources in police said at 2am on Wednesday he had contacted his family members from Jammu reportedly after some dispute with a driver of a private passenger vehicle. They further added that Sharma had also informed the police that he had some dispute with one Mohammad Parvez, a son of Lamberdar, of Laamb village.

“Akhnoor police have started the investigation. The statement of Rakesh couldn't be taken as he was not in a position to record his statement,” said Purshotam Sharma, ASP, Noushera.

Meanwhile, defence public relations officer Col RK Palta said: “The jawan was on leave up to March 31. He had requested for extension of leave for 15 days, which was granted by his unit. He was found injured during his leave and the police are investigating the matter."